Electric receptacle baffle



Oct. 27, 1931. N. G. HAERING ,3

- ELECTRIC RECEPTACLIE BAFFLE Filed Dec. 51, 1929 5 24 gwwntoz Aorberf G HdHl/Zj (Patented Oct. 27.1931

UNITED STATES .P-ATE NT OFFICE.

xdmmnr o. e, or cnrcnnmrr. oino, xssrenoa 'ro rm; mow-mar a norm ELECTRIC column, HARTFORD, OONNIODICUT, A OOBPQRATION or coimnc'rrcu'r ammo nmcmxom mam Application fled December 81, 1929. Serial Io. 417,715.

This invention relates to im rovements in electric receptacles and outlet xes and has for an object the provision of means'whereby an outlet box for receiving one or more double electric receptacles may be efieotiv'ely subdivided so that difi'erent types of service wires may be connected to the op" site sides-of a double receptacle without anger of arcing between the several circuits.

Another object is to provide'a rece tacle and barrier or partition member whic may be mounted in existing outlet box installation. Another object is to rovide a construction for the purposes states that is adaptable to single and double outlet boxes.

Anotherobject is to rovide a'construc'tion whereby destruction oi the receptacle is necessary to remove the partition member.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which 7 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a double outlet box having'receptacle and partition means of the invention operatively mounted therein. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figf'l. a y Fig. 4 is a plan view of a partition member forming a detail of the invention. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 4. I

Fig.6 is a plan view of a removable sup; 'plemental' partition of the invention.

Fig. 7- is a side elevational view of the partition shown in Fig. 6. l In present day electrical wiring installations .it is common practice to provide outlet boxes adapted to receive double electric receptacles and it is likewise common to connect two of the usual outlet boxes and to install two double electric receptacles therein without the necessity for partitions or b'arrierswhen the wiring is all of the same type of service. For reasons of safety the underwriters code prohibits the introduction.

one type of service wire and to this end pro- VldeS means com rising partitions so that the ordinary 011 at box is effectively and completely subdivided into separate conipartments, thereby complying fully with the spirit and rule' of the underwriters code and at the same time eliminating much of present invention substantially the ordinary electric receptacle'may be transformed to use for difierent double service and effective protection against arcing between the two sets of wires. associated with the receptacle so that when it is installed in the usual outlet box these different services are entirely separated. 'In Fig. 1 there is shown in plan two of the ordinary outlet boxes connected together to form the ordina 4 x 4 outlet opening. As is well known' t iiese boxes are made with removable' sides. provided with interlocking parts so that it is possible to connect several to form one enlarged box. Inthe drawings the box 10 is shown without a receptacle andthe box 11is shown connected thereto with a double receptacle of the invention positioned therein. The receptacle body 12 has substantially the usual form, being elongated and havin its opposite side edges 13 and 14 arranged to e suitably spaced from the side walls 15 of an outlet box. The side edges 13 and 14 are recessed intermediate their opposite ends forming transverse slots 16. These slots extend the entire depth of the receptacle and are about inch in width so that they may snugly receive the opgiosite ed es of a barrier or partition membero equal wir lth as hereinafter described. The slots 16 are deepened near the bottom of the receptacle by inclining the bottom of the slots toward the middle of the receptacle as at 17. One, side of the receptacle has the usual parallel contact apertures 18 providing access for the prongs of an electric connector lug to the usual contacts (not shown) disposed within the usual recesses 19 in the receptacle. In the .present embodiment the usual elevat ing top portion 20 of the receptacle is marked electric or with some similar suitable indicia to denote its use. The opposite side of the receptacle has a similar portion or boss 20 on its top face suitably marked at 21 to indicate the character of the service wires connected thereto (e. g. radio) and, in this case the contact apertures 22 are set at angles to the slots 18 and to each other. These slots may be further marked A. and G. to indicate antenna and ground connections so that the antenna circuit of a radio may be properly plugged into this side of a receptacle.

In view of the close proximity of these plug receptacles for wires of different servme, it is necessary to provide a barrier 23 transverse to the receptacle and box so that when the complete double receptacle is inserted in a single outlet box, that box will be positively divided into two non-communieating compartments. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be noted that the barrier 23 consists of a plate of sheet material (preferably steel) or" such thickness as to snugly fit within the slots 16 in the receptacle side edges and this plate is of a width such that its edges 24 may slidably abut the side walls of a single outlet box. The top edge 25 of 'the barrier or partition is cut away intermediate the side edges 24 forming an opening 29 correspondin in shape with the center cross-section of t e receptacle body 12 as shown in cross-section in Fig. 3. In this way the opposed inside edges 26 of theopening enter the slots 16 and the inclined restrictin edges 27 contact with the inclined portions 1? of the bottom of the slots 16.- Immediately below these inclined edges 27 the plate 23 has parallel sided opposed notches 28 providing, together with the normal opening 29 a slot through which the usual separate bottom insulating plate 30 for the receptacle may beinserted at right angles to the "barrier 23. Immediately adjacent this is a somewhat restricted opening 31 which receives the usual metallic strap 32 which extends longitudinal: ly across the bottom of insulating plate 30, andalso has its opposite ends turned'upwardly at right angles forming arms 33 seated in suitable depressions in the end edges of both the insulating plate and the receptacle body. The arms 33 have the usual slotted flanges 34 extending outwardly therefro nd these are employed to mount the r eptacle and box in the well-known manor. The barrier 23 also has a restricted otch 35 communicating with the strap slot 1 for seating the end 36 of a rivet 37 which e d s through the receptacle body, insulatly in the slots 16 of the receptacle body. The

rivet extending through coinciding perforations in the strap, insulating plate and receptacle body, may now be u set or headed whereupon the barrier is osltively secured against removal from the s ot.

The invention has been thus far ex lained as used particularly with a single outlet box, which usually has an opening of 2"x4", although the drawings show the complete structure for effectively dividing and separating the two sets of wires (i. e. radio and house current wires) from each other and from an additional connected outlet box. This double outlet box is formed by disposing of adjacent sidewalls of apair of 2"x4 single boxes, and connecting the boxes together to form a single larger box b means of the suitable lugs on one box fitting into notches in the other. This connecting means is a matter of common practice and forms no part of the present invention and need not be detailed herein. The present invention is applied-to this larger or comblned outlet box by providing the barrier 23 with an integral lug extending flush with and at right'angles to the edge 24. The lu 38 has perforations 39 therein. A lo'ngitu inal auxiliary partition plate 40 has threaded holes 41 matched with holes 39rso that when screws 42 are inserted through them the partition 40 comletely separates one half of the large box rom the other and the last mentioned half is again divided in two by barrier 23. The usual knockouts for receivin wire conduits areprovided in the boxes. ceptacle (not shown) may be mounted in the undivided half of the double box, or it may obviously be subdivided by employing a receptacle and barrier of this inventlon if needed. If desired the ends of screws 38 may be burred or spread to preclude subsequent separation of the barrier 23, and partition 40.

This practice is desirable so that unauthorized. omission of these membersisrendcred impossible once the structure has been 1nstalled by an experienced electrician and yet low cost.

It should be understood that the term outny suitable renow be seen that ,in assemblin the ufacture and installation and entails but a let box is not used in a limiting sense but is intended to include all housings that are suitable for the reception of what is known to the trade as duplex receptacles, or their equivalent. Many modifications within the scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art, therefore, I do not limit myself to the specific embodiment shown.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an outlet box having the usual walls, of a double electric receptacle body having opposed slots in its side edges, an insulating plate for the bottom of the receptacle, a mounting clip strap to support the plate and receptacle in the box, a

arrier comprising a sheet of non-combustible material cut out at the top forming edges adapted to be seated in the slots in the receptacle body, said barrier being also slotted to receive the strap and plate and means to secure the plate, strap and receptacle together so that the barrier is secured against removal b the plate and the receptacle body, the barrier s'ervin to isolate the opposite ends of the receptac e in opposite ends of the outlet box.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a double electric receptacle body having opposed slots at the center of its side edges, an insulatin plate extending across the bottom of the ody and closing the slots at the bottom, a U-shaped strap ex-. tending longitudinally overthe bottom of said plate and over the end edges of the plate and body, a barrier of non-combustible sheet 'material cut inwardly from-its top edge for entry into the slots in the body, said barrier also having opposed notches to permit the plate and strap to enter the bafile transversely of the baflle, and means for fixing the strap, plate, and receptacle together whereby the barrier is retained against removal.

3. In combination a double electric receptacle body havin slots in its opposed side edges, a non-com ustible barrier cut out to provide edges slidable in the slots, an insulating plate on the bottom of the body closing the slots, the barrier having an opening wherein the plate is slidable transversely of the barrier, a strap extending longitudi nally across the bottom of the plate and through the barrier and means securing the strap, plate, and body together whereby the plate and body retain the barrier against removal.

4. As a new article of manufacture a double electric receptacle having a laterally and rear'wardly extending barrier attached thereto between the outlets thereof whereby, when the receptacle is mounted in an outlet box, the barrier completely isolates the opposite ends of the receptacle from one another.

5. As a new article of manufacture a duplex electric receptacle having a plate permanently secured transversely between the outlets thereof projecting from the rear of said receptacle and providing an interior dividing wall for an outlet box in which the receptacle may be mounted.

6. In combination an outlet box, a receptacle mounted atone side of the box and partition means supported by the receptacle whereby the box is divided into three separate compartments, the opposite end ortions of the receptacle bein dispose in isolated relation in two of sai separate compartments.

7. In combination, an 'outlet box, a receptacle having a plurality of outlets opening on one face, and a barrier engaging with the receptacle intermediate its ends whereby the outlet box is divided into isolated compartments one for each outlet.

8. In combination an electric receptacle having slots across its side ed es parallel with its ends, an insulating p ate and astrap, and a barrier plate out out at its top to provide an opening through which said insulating plate and strap may be introduced at right angles to the barrier plate and into which the slotted receptacle may be moved in a direction longitudinally of the barrier plate to abut said insulating plate, the insulating plate and receptacle body mutually cooperating to preclude movement of the barrier plate in any direction when said insulating plate and receptacle are in said abutting relation.

9. The combination with an outlet box of an attachment plug receptacle having a plurality of outlets opening came face, and partitioning means cooperating with said receptacle and box to divide said box into a plurality of isolated compartments, each of the outlets of said receptacle being located in a difierent compartment.

10. The combination with an outlet box of an attachment plug receptacle having a plurality of outlets opening on one face, and partitioning means secured to said receptacle and cooperating with said box to divide said box into a plurality of isolated compartments each of the outlets of said receptacle being located in a different com 'artment-.

11. The'combina-tion wit an outlet box, of a duplex electric receptacle having its outlets opening on one face, and partitioning means cooperating with said box and receptacle to divide said box into two isolated. compartments ,with one outlet of the receptacle in each compartment. g

12. The'combination with: an outlet box, of

a duplex electric receptacle having itsv outlets opening on oneface and partitioning means cooperating'with saidbox and receptacle to divide said box into two isolated com- I partments with one outlet of the receptacle in each compartment, the top of said partitioning means having a profile similar to the cross-section of the portion of the receptacle lac with which said partitioning means cooperates.

13. The combination comprising an electric receptacle having a plurality of outlets opening on one face, a separate pair of wire terminals for each outlet, and a plate secured to said receptacle between the terminals of one outlet and the terminals of the other, whereby to isolate one outlet from the other when said receptacle is placed in an outlet box, said plate being approximately equal in width and depth to the box in which said receptacle is placed.

14. An attachment plug receptacle having a plurality of outlets, partitioning means recessed at one edge, slots cut into the sides of saidreceptacle for the reception of those edges of said partitioning means which are around the recess, whereby when said partitioning means and receptacle are placed in a housing said partitioning means completely isolates the outlets of the receptacle from one another.

15. An attachment plug receptacle having a plurality of outlets, slots in thesides of said receptacle, a partition recessed at one edge for engagement in said slots while extending rearwardly from said receptacle to form a dividing wall for a housing in which said receptacle may be mounted.

I6. An attachment plug receptacle having a plurality of outlets, in combination with a rearwardly extending partitioning means engaging with said receptacle between said outlets whereby when said receptacle is mounted in a housing, said partitioning means completely isolates the outlets of the recep' tacle from one another.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of December, 1929.

NORBERT G. HAERING. 

